Brittney Griner, Baylor have KU women’s attention

Baylor center Brittney Griner, center, grabs a rebound against Kansas' Aishah Sutherland (11) in the first half of Saturday's game in Waco, Texas. Griner had 28 points, seven rebounds and five blocks in the 74-46 Baylor win.

Baylor All-American forward Brittney Griner is averaging 22.7 points and 9.8 rebounds, but it’s another aspect of her game that impresses Kansas University coach Bonnie Henrickson the most.

“I’ve always said that the most impact she has is on the other end of the floor because she’s going to take 25 to 30 (points) away from you at the rim and even mid-range,” Henrickson said. “You have to be really smart with her and recognize she doesn’t have to be very close to you to get a piece of it. She can cover a lot of ground in a short period of time.”

KU will have to be opportunistic to try to score against the 6-foot-8 Griner and BU during today’s 6:30 p.m. home game against the No. 1-ranked Bears. Baylor remains as the only undefeated team left in men’s or women’s Div. I basketball.

The Jayhawks’ first crack at the Bears’ defense didn’t go so well.

KU made just 18 of 61 field goals (30 percent) and 13 of 49 twos (27 percent) in a 74-46 loss at BU on Jan. 28. In that game, Griner contributed five blocks in 31 minutes.